What advice would you give to someone who is afraid to make mistakes when speaking English?
6 answers from our tutors
Best answer
.Don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s part of the learning process. Remind yourself that it takes time to learn a language. If you learn a word or a structure today, that’s a win. Celebrate small wins. Aim for improvement not perfection. -I always tell my students these things.
I'd tell him speak with confidence as if you didn't say anything wrong. Practice confidence in parallel to the language practice.
I live by the idiom " Practice makes Perfect" making mistakes when speaking English is part of the practice journey and it's ok to make mistakes, no one was born Perfect. I encouage people learning to speak English to strive for progress not perfection.
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Reminding them that mistakes is part of the learning process and help them in improving themselves.
If the student is not preparing for a test or something, I always encourage her to focus on delivering the message first and then on the structure. I try to encourage students to express whatever is on their minds without the fear of making mistakes. I remind them that unless they speak out, no one will be able to help them. So, they better take their chance, make mistakes and we'll work on improving them together.
I always tell my students that the primary focus of speaking is to communicate ideas clearly. It’s no big deal if their grammar isn’t perfect or if they mispronounce a word. What’s important is that they get their message across and that the listener understands. With more practice and exposure to the language, they’ll gain confidence and sharpen their speaking skills:)
Other student questions
- What advice can you give to someone who has difficulty memorizing vocabulary?TTmina
Best answer
I have my students use a set amount of new vocabulary words to create and tell a story. This not only encourages creativity but also allows them to practice using the words in context, enhancing retention:)
- What strategies do you find most effective for building student confidence in speaking English?
Best answer
I encourage my students to make recordings of their speaking sessions and revisit them later. I am convinced that this approach to self-assessment allows them to track their progress and find areas for growth, which can really uplift their confidence:)
